Joseph Peggs was born in Dublin Ireland in about 1775 according to the book "Kentuckians in Ohio and Indiana" by Stuart Seeley Sprague. He married Nancy Cunningham, who was born in Pennsylvania. Ernest G. Maddox memoirs states that Joseph's wife was Annie with no last name given. Annie was a common nickname for Nancy, so I believe we have the same woman.

The Memoir also states that Joseph Peggs was born in Dublin, went to London and then to American. He must have been in Pennsylvania by 1792. He married Nancy Cunningham in Pennsylvania and had two children there before moving to Henry County Kentucky about 1796.

Julia Mortenson does a lot of research on the Maddox and adjunct families, including the Peggs.  She found a Bio on William McGregor on the Marion County Indiana website.   The site now requires a password. end of 2011  It is worth keeping for the clue it provides.   Mr. McGregor had married  "Frances M. Pegs, daughter of Joseph A. Peggs a granddaughter of Joseph Peggs."  It stated that Joseph Peggs had witnessed the sinking of the Royal George. The Royal George was a large British ship that was undergoing repairs in Portsmouth Harbor when he suddenly sank on August 29, 1782.  The story from our modern eye is amazing.  It had a crew of over 800 men.  While it was undergoing repairs they and friend and family were all on board!  The ship had been heeled over to expose a leak for repairs, there was a loud crack and it immediately sank. Nearly 1400 people died in the disaster.  The story can be found on the Cowper and Newton Museum website at www.mkheritage.co.uk/cnm/htmlpages/royalgeorge.html

If Joseph was born about 1775 as implied, then he would have been only 7/8 years old when he saw the sinking of the ship.  That means he was probably traveling with relatives.

According to the LDS IGI Kentucky listing Joseph Peggs and Nancy Cunningham had the following children: (I've place a * by those also listed in the Memoir):
1. Rachel born June 9, 1793 in Penn * wed Wm. McClellan.
2. Jacob born Oct 20, 1794 in Penn *
3. Ellen born 1797 in Kentucky. * wed Wm. Campbell.
4. Mary born about 1802 in Henry Ct Kentucky *Mary Ann wed Tom English.
5. Catherine born 1805 in Oldham Ct * Kitty wed Bailey Haskins.
6. Sarah Ann born 1806 in Henry Ct. * Sarah wed Johnathan Cox.
7. Joseph born Oct 24, 1807 in Henry Ct.*
8. Nancy born 1808 in Henry Ct. * wed Joseph Greenwood.
9. John Francis born 1809 Henry Ct.
10 Evan Owen born Sept 14, 1814 in Henry Ct.
11. Thomas born about 1815 in Henry Ct.
12. William Archibald born about 1818 in Henry Ct. * Will

The 1810 Henry Ct. Kentucky census lists Joseph as Head of Household with 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-16 and 1 male 26 - 45 and 3 females under 10, 2 females between 10-16, 1 female 16-18 and a female 26-45. They had 1 slave. That would indicate that Mary was actually born before 1800. All else fits.

The 1820 Henry Ct. census list Joseph as Head of Household with 3 males under 10, 2 males 10-16, 1 male 16-26 and 1 male26-45, 4 females under 10, and 1 female 10-16. Annie must have died between 1818 and 1820. The boys all fit, but Nancy is the only girl that does. This needs checking. It also states that 1 person in the household was foreign-born (Joseph) and 1 person in commerce.

The 1830 Oldham county Ky Census list Joseph Peggs, Head of Household with 1 male 10-15, 2 males 15-20, 1 male 20-30 and 1 male over 70.
1 female 5-10, 1 female 20-30, 1 female 60- 70. I believe The "over 70" must be a re cording error of  the census taker, or the 2 previous census' understated his age. The only child that doesn't fit the list of children above is the female 5-10. 

According to the Indiana census record, in 1830 the oldest son, Jacob, was living in Marion County Indiana.  Joseph is not found on a census again.  It is not known where he died, it may have been Oldham county KY or in Indiana.   Many of their children ended up in Johnson County Indiana. Rachel and William McClellan are on the 1870 Census, Jacob Peggs is on every Census through 1880 when he was living with John F. McClellan - hotel keeper.. Also found are Joseph,  Thomas, Evan and John F. The 1840 Indiana Census, Johnson County has Evan Peggs a single man with a  woman 70-80 was living with him.  This was most likely Nancy.  Except for Rachel, I could not find the daughters in Indiana.

Nancy died in July 1840 and is bruied in the Glade-Dobbin cemetery.  According to the Clark Township, Johnson County Indiana Cembetery Listing 2000.  She was 71 years old.  Near by is her son Thomas Peggs died April 1836, age 25 and her grandson, Alfred, son of Joseph and MA Peggs.  He died in 1855.

And in 1850 Jacob was in Johnson Ct, Indiana, age 55, listed as an Innkeeper. Also there were his brothers Joseph, age 43 listed as a shoemaker and John F. age 41. 

I believe there were Peggs, Greenwood and Maddox families that moved about the same time to Indiana. Some of the family stayed there, such as Nancy's older brothers, and Daniel Maddox while other families returned to Kentucky.

If you know the answer please CONTACT US.

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Last Saved on: 12/21/2011